Electric switch operating device



1932- F. H. RICHTERKESSING ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14. 1930 2 sheets sheet l gn uento'o FRANK H. RIC/ITERKESJ/NG dttotmq Oct. 18, 1932. F. H. RICHTERKESSING 2,

ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14. 1930 2 spans-sheet 2 gwuwntoz Fldh'k H. KICHTERKESSINq dttomq Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES FRANK H. BICHTERKESSING, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE Application filed August 14, 1930. Serial No. 475,221.

My invention relates to an electric device for automatically directing the course of travel of overhead current collectors.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a device wherein the movable switch element is normally mechanically biased to one position and electrically actuated and magnetically biased in the other position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system for automatically selecting the position of the frog tongue from the vehicle through the medium of the motor controller when either thrown to the power on or power off position.

A still further object of my system is to eliminate the relay system ordinarily employed to control the device.

A still further object of my system is to retain the switching elements of the frog devices in such a position as to permit an uninterrrupted movement of the traflic in the straight ahead course of travel.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a suitable trolley contacting device for cooperating with the current collector to govern the position of the movable element of the frog device.

Other objects will disclose themselves as the disclosure of my invention is made herein.

My invention resides in the new and novel construction, the combination and relation of the various parts and circuits herein described and disclosed in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic scheme of the circuits employed in a trackless trolley vehicle and which are taken into account in the operation of my invention, more fully described hereinafter.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic circuit of my inventionshowing the relation of the various parts when the system is in a normal condition.

Fig. 3 is a modified system of Fig. 2 whereby the movable switching elements of the frog tongue devices are restored to their normal positions through the application of a secondary auxiliary contactor.

It is the object of my invent-ion to provide a system for automatically and electrically operating movable switch elements of trolley frog devices to the straight ahead or curved position governed by the operator of a vehicle applying power on or power off to the motors of his vehicle. This system utilizes the principle that when the motor controller is set in the power on position, a heavy current will flow through the vehicle motors, and when the controller is set to the power oil position no current will flow in the motor circuits. The flow and non-flow of current in the motor operating circuit is made use of in the operation of my system for selecting the position of the trolley frog tongue devices. There are other currents employed in trackless trolley vehicles of lesser magnitude than that required for the motor operating circuits, and these must be taken into account in the design of the system. These are referred to as the auxiliary circuits and are known as the heat light and air compressor circuits.

In Fig. 1 the characters W and W1 represent trolley wheels or overhead current collectors employed on trackless trolley vehicles for collecting the necessary current from the overhead current conductors 1 and 1A. The characters T1 and T2 represent the trolley poles by which the respective current collectors are mounted upon the vehicle. H indicates the heaters, L the lights, J the air compressors, and these when in operation may constitute a considerable amount of current. The motors for moving the vehicle are represented by the letter M, and the controller for regulating the current flowing in the motor operating circuit is represented by the characters C2.

In the system shown in Fig. 2 the letter 1? represents a trolley pan or contactor positioned adjacent the trolley wire lAand is so arranged that when the current collector W1 comes into contact engagement with the contact members 2 and 3, it will pass out of contact engagement with the trolley wire 1A. The contact members 2 and 3 usually consist of two laterally disposed parallel contact members normally insulated from each other and the trolley wire 1A and are so positioned that the current collector W1 will bridge the two when passing thereover.

As was previously mentioned trackless trolley vehicles employ two overhead current collectors for collecting the current necessary for the operation of the motors and the auxiliary circuits of the vehicle. In Fig. 2 each of the trolley wires 1 and 1A are provided with independent frog switching devices for governing the course of travel of the overhead current collectors W and lVl. The trolley frog switching device U is mounted on the overhead trolley wire 1A for directing the course of travel of the current collector 1, and is provided with a movable switching element 0 which is normally biased in such a position as to permit the current collector W1 to continue in its straight ahead course of travel through the employment of the spring S2. The movable tongue element 0 is also provided with a contact 6 for registering with the contact 7 when the movable tongue element is electrically actuated to that position. Two coils ar employed to affect the operation of the movable tongue element 0. The operating coil KL is employed to govern the selective positioning of the tongue while the coil H is employed to retain the electrically actuated position of the tongue element. The operating coil KL preferably consists of a few turns of heavy wire asit must withstand the heavy currents flowing to the motors ot' the trackless trolley vehicle. The ampere turns of the operating coil KL are so proportioned as to affect the tongue element O of the trolley frog U, when the controller C2 is set in such a position as to cause a heavy current to flow in the motor circuits of the vehicle when the current collector W1 is in contact engagement with the trolley contactor P. The ampere turnsof the operating coil KL are also arranged so as not to affect the movable tongue O when the controller-C2 is set in such a position that no current will flow in the operating circuit of the vehicle motors. Furthermore it is also necessary that the ampere turns of the operating coil KL be so regulated that the current flowing through the auxiliary circuits, which will also flow through the operating coil KL, will not at feet the movable tongue element 0. The operating coil H of the trolley frog device U must have sufficientampere turns to retain the tongue element 0 in its electrically actuated position against abnormal shocks and vibration of the overhead net work. t is very obvious to those skilled in the art that the holding coil H may be either of the high or low resistance type depending upon the selection of the designer. The overhead trolley wire 1 is also provioed with asimilar frog switching device which is representer by the letter V. The frog switching device V is provided with a movable switch tongue N and is likewise normally biased in such a position as to cause the current collector WV to continue in the straight ahead course of travel. This biasing of the movable tongue element N is brought about through the use of the spring S1. The frog device V is provided with an operating coil H2 and a resist-anceR which is connected in series with the operating coil H of the frog device U. The ampere turns of the operating coil H2 are so regulated that the switch tongue will be electrically actuated and magnetically biased in that position when current flows therein.

In the modified system shown in Fig 3 similar parts and connecting wires are represented by the same characters ano numerals employed in Fig. 2. The characters P1 represent a trolley pan or contactor mounted adjacent the trolley wire 1A and is so arranged that when the current coll ctor N1 comes into contact engagement with its con-- tact members 2 and 25 it will pass out of contact engagement with the trolley wire 1A.

The contact members 2 and 2A. are electrically connected through the connecting wire 13 and usually consist of two laterally disposed parallel contact members normally insulated from the trolley wire 1A.

The trolley contacting device P2 mounted r on the curve section of the trolley wire 1A usually consists of a flexible strip 15 paralleling the trolley wire, and is so arranged that the current collector N1 will bridge the trolley wire 1A and the contact strip 15 when passing thereover. It is very obvious to those skilled in the art that many other forms of contacting devices may be employed to substitute for the trolley contactor P2, and which will not afiect the operation of my invention. In the system shown in Fig. 3 the trolley frog switching devices U and V mounted in their respective trolley wires 1A and 1 are identical with those described in Fig. 2 and it is believed that since like numbers and characters have been employed to identify the similar parts a lengthy description of their operation is not required.

With further reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that when the current collectors W and W1 approach their respective frog switching devices U and V, the current collector W1 will first come into contact engagement with the trolley contactor P. If the current collector lVl initially engages the trolley contactor P with power oil", the operating coil KL of the frog operating device U will not be sufliciently energized to allect the frog tongue 0,

and the normal straight ahead selection of the frog devices U and V will be retained. If the current collector W1, however, initially engages the trolley contactor P with power on the operating coil KL will be sufliciently energized to afiect the frog tongue 0 and move it to the curved position. The circuit for the be completed from the overhead trolley wire 1A, through wire 18, operating coil KL, wire 17, contact member 2 of trolley contactor P, current collector W1, trolley pole T2, controller C2, vehicle motors M, trolley pole T1, current collector V to the ground return trolley wire 1. As the current collector continues its course of travel and comes into con tact engagement with'the contactor member 3 of the trolley contactor P, a circuit will be established for the energization of the operating coil H2 of the frog device V. This circuit will be completed from the trolley wire 1A, through wire 18, operating coil KL, wire 17 Contact member 2 of trolley contactor P, through the current collector V1, contact member 3 oftrolley contactor P, wire 4, wire 10, resistor R, wire 11, operating coil H2 of the frog operating device V, wire 12 to the ground return trolley wire 1. The energization of the operating coil H2 will cause the frog tongue N of the frog operating device V to likewise move to its curve position. As soon as the current collector WVl disengages the trolley cont-actor P, a holding circuit will be established through the coils H and H2 for retaining the respective selected positions of the frog tongue devices. This circuit will be completed from the trolley wire 1A, through wire 18, through the flexible connection 5, movable tongue 0 of the frog device U, contact 6, contact 7, wire 8, holding coil H of the frog operating device U, wire 9, wire 10, resistor R, wire 11, operating coil H2 of the frog operating device V, wire 12, to the ground return trolley wire 1. The frog tongues N and 0 will remain in this selected position for the vehicle, and direct the respective current collectors W and W1 to the curved course of travel, and will so remain set for all following cars approaching the system with power on. Should, however, a following car initially engage the trolley contactor P with power off, the operating coil KL of the trolley contactor U will not be sufiiciently energized to affect the movable tongue element O, and as the current collector VVl comes into contact engagement with the con tact members 2 and 3 of the trolley contactor P, the holding coil H of the frog operating device U will be short circuited, and the frog tongue 0 will disengage the contacts 6 and 7. As was previously described one coil terminal 8 of the operating coil H is connected to the trolley wire 1A through contact 7, contact 6, movable tongue element O, flexible connector 5, and wire 18, and since the other coil terminal 9 of the operating coil H was likewise connected to the trolley wire 1A through the contact engagement of the current collector V1 with the contact members 2 and 3 of the trolley contactor P through wire 4, contact member 3, current collector W1, contact member 2, wire 17 operating coil KL and wire 18, no current will flow through the operating coil H andthe frog tongue 0 will be released to its normal mechanically biased position. As soon as the current collector 1 disengages the trolley contactor P both-movable tongue elements N and 0 will be restored to their normal mechanically biased positions.

In Fig. 3 the operation of the system is identical to that described in Fig. 2 with the exception that the electro-magnetic biasing of the curved position of the movable tongue elements N and O, is removed as soon as the current collector WVl comes into contact en- 1A. As heretofore described under Fig. 2'

a following car desiring the straight ahead I selection would merely coast under the trolley contactor P with power off, and the operating coil H of the frog operating device U was shunted. The employment of the trolley contactor P2 in Fig. 3 performs the same function brought about through the shunting contact engagement of the current collector W1 and the contact member 3 of the contactor P in Fig. 2. Since Fig. 3 is very similar in operation to Figure 2 and the parts are identical in construction with that described for Fig. 2, it is not believed that a lengthy description is necessary, as it will be very obvious to those skilled in the art the operation accomplished in Fig. 3.

There are, of course, modifications and arrangeinents of parts which may be made from that shown in the above disclosure and which will still fall within the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a current collector switching device, the combination of a power line, a current collector, a movable element included in the said power line for directing the course of travel of'the said our ent collector, mechanical means normally biasing the movable ele 'ment in one position and electromagnetic means for selectively operating the said movable element to another position, and electromagnetic means for retaining the said movable element in its electrically actuated position.

2. In a trolley frog tongue operating device, the combination of a movable tongue element, mechanical means for operating and retaining the said tongue element in one posi= tion and electro-magnetic means for selectivcly operating the said tongue element to another position, and means for retaining the said movable tongue element inits selectively actuated position.

3. In a trolley frogtongue operating system, the combination of a movable tongue element, electromagnetic means for moving the said tongue element to one position, and mechanical means for operating and returning the said tongue element in another position, a power line, a current collector,a trolley contacting device located in the said power line, of means controlled by contact engagement of the said current collector and trolley contacting device to affect the said electromagnetic means, and electrically operated means for retaining the said tongue element in its electrically actuated position.

4. In a vehicle operating system comprising a moving vehicle, a double power line, current collectors for collecting motive power for the said Vehicle from the power lines, trolley frog tongue devices equipped with movable elements included in each of the saic power lines for directing the course of travel of the said current collectors, a trolley contacting device mounted in one 01": the said power lines, of means controlled by the said vehicle while one of the said current collectors is in contact engagement with the said trolley contacting device for automatically and electrically actuating the movable ele ments of the said frog tongue devices, and electro-magnetic means for retaining the said movable elements in their electrically operated positions.

5. In a trolley frog operating device, the combination of amovable frog tongue, means for moving the said frog tongue, said means including a plurality or coils, a main circuit for connecting one of the said coils to a source of power for selective temporary energization of the last named coil upon the approach of a vehicle with power on or power 0H whereby the said frog tongue may be electrically actuated to one position, and a circuit of relatively high resistance for connecting another one of said coils to the same source of power for retaining the said frog tongue in its electrically actuated position.

6. In a trolley frog operating device, the combination of a movable frog tongue, means for moving the said frog tongue, said means including a plurality of coils, a main circuit for connecting one of the said coils to a source of power for selective energization whereby the said frog tongue may be electrically actuated in accordance with predetermined conditions and a second circuit or" relatively high resistance for connecting another one of said coils to the same source of power for retaining the said frog tongue in its electrically actuated position.

7. In a trolley frog tongue operating device, the combination or" a movable frog tongue, means for moving the said frog tongue element, saidmeans including a plurality of coils, a power line, a contactor, a current collector for cooperating with the said contactor for selectively supplying a temporary energization current to one of the said 0011s for electro-magnetically operating the said tongue element to one position and means for supplying a holding current in another one of the said coils for retaining the selected position of the said tongue element.

8. In a trolley frog tongue operating device, the combination of a movable frog another one of the said coils for retaining the selected position of the said tongue element, and mechanical means for operating and biasing the said movable element to another position.

9. In a trolley frog operating device, the combination of a movable frog tongue element, means for moving the frog tongue element to one of its operable positions, said means including a plurality of coils, mechanical means for operating and biasing the said movable element to another position, a double power line, each of said power lines equipped with a frog tongue operating device, a trolley contactor mounted in one of the said power lines, current collectors normally engaging the said power lines, one of said current collectors arranged to cooperate with the said trolley contactor to supply a temporary operating current to one of the said operating coils of each of the respective frog tongue operating devices, and means for supplying a holding current to the said coils for retaining the electrically actuated position of the said movable elements.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK H. RIOHTERKESSING. 

